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The Leather Care Guide

Leather Love

A Stylish Girl’s Guide To Accessory Care

If you’re like me, the concept of leather care is foreign (until I was able to afford actual leather products, that is.) I always thought people had just bought the $300 (& up) bag, then were just careful where they set it down like it was a precious family heirloom. And it makes sense… you should properly take care of something that you spent much of your hard-earned money on.

After working for Brynn Capella Inc., leather care has become part of my vernacular and is so useful to know.

For instance, do you know the difference between Aniline and Semi-aniline leather? What’s an aniline, am I right?

Aniline leather is the most natural looking leather with the unique surface characteristics of the hide remaining visible. Aniline leather is colored only with dye and not with a surface coating of polymer and pigment .

Semi-aniline leather is more durable than aniline whilst still retaining a natural appearance. The increased durability is provided by the application of a light surface coating which contains a small amount of pigment. This ensures consistent color and imparts some stain resistance.

Pigmented Leather is the most durable and is used in the majority of furniture upholstery and almost all car upholstery. The durability is provided by a polymer surface coating which contains pigments.

Brynn Capella uses all of these types of leather for her handbags. And always cowhide.

So, here’s a guide to care for your loved leather goods:

1. Treat with a waterproof leather spray prior to use if you are concerned about weather. Spray leather lightly and from a distance or seek a professional for the best results.

2. Avoid getting your handbag wet – although this may seem inevitable, getting your leather bag drenched in a rainstorm will not do anything for the leather. If your bag is caught in a rainstorm or a water bottle spills inside, remove the bag’s contents and pack it with absorbent paper. Always allow leather to dry naturally.

*Never use heaters such as radiators or air dryer.*

3. Avoid leaving your handbag in direct sunlight for long periods. This can cause fading and permanent damage to the color when unattended.

4. Use a leather cream to moisturize or a refurbishment cream to take away scratches from the leather where necessary. Leathers which have a glaze may react with creams, so it’s best to ask at the store where you purchase the cream which one is suitable for your particular bag.

5. Over packing can stretch the leather and the handles and put a strain on the stitching or the zippers. Take care that sharp objects or ink pens do not come into contact with the leather.

6. Do not let your handbag dehydrate or get too dirty. Dehydration and dirt build-up can cause creases and even cracks and leather fading. To avoid this, regularly clean the dirt with a soft damp cloth and use an appropriate cream to preserve the suppleness of the leather. It is important not to saturate the stain with water as this can leave a mark on unfinished leathers. Although most natural unfinished leathers will darken with water clean-up, if left to air dry should naturally disappear. If your water mark doesn’t disappear, wait until the leather has completely dried and rub gently with a soft dry cloth to restore leather or seek a professional.

7. Patent Leather has a unique quality to it, different than untreated leather. There are only two simple steps to care for it: cleaning and shining.

Hopefully this was just as educational for you as it was for me! Happy Leather Cleaning!